diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
index 75d8013..ddb3208 100644
--- a/README.rst
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -150,6 +150,10 @@ it using the command line interface using the following syntax::
 
     openvpn-gui.exe --command *cmd* [*args*]
 
+Or::
+
+    openvpn-gui.exe --cmd [*args*]
+
 Currently supported *cmds* are
 
 connect ``config-name``
@@ -163,6 +167,10 @@ reconnect ``config-name``
      Disconnect and then reconnect the configuration named *config-name*
      if connected.
 
+status ``config-name``
+     Show the status window of the configuration named *config-name*
+     if connected or is in the process of connecting.
+
 disconnect\_all
      Disconnect all active connections.
 
@@ -178,9 +186,10 @@ rescan
 import ``path``
      Import the config file pointed to by ``path``.
 
-If no running instance of the GUI is found, these commands do nothing
-except for *--command connect config-name* which gets interpreted
-as *--connect config-name*
+If no running instance of the GUI is found, these commands have no
+effect except for *connect*, *import*, and *silent_connection* which
+get interpreted resepctively as *--connect*, *--import*, and
+*--silent_connection*.
 
 Registry Values affecting the OpenVPN GUI operation
 ***************************************************
diff --git a/main.c b/main.c
index ba71d5c..c5c7843 100644
--- a/main.c
+++ b/main.c
@@ -258,9 +258,9 @@ int WINAPI _tWinMain (HINSTANCE hThisInstance,
   {
       for (struct action *a = o.action_list.head; a; a = a->next)
       {
-          if (a->type == WM_OVPN_START)
+          if (a->type == WM_OVPN_START || a->type == WM_OVPN_SILENT)
           {
-              PrintDebug(L"Instance 1: Called with --command connect xxx. Treating it as --connect xxx");
+              ; /* pass these could get set by --connect or --silent_connection */
           }
           else if (a->type == WM_OVPN_IMPORT)
           {
@@ -268,8 +268,8 @@ int WINAPI _tWinMain (HINSTANCE hThisInstance,
           }
           else
           {
-              MsgToEventLog(EVENTLOG_ERROR_TYPE, L"Called with --command when no previous instance available (action type = %d arg = %s", a->type, a->arg ? a->arg : L"");
-              exit(OVPN_EXITCODE_ERROR);
+              /* log an error, but do not treat as fatal */
+              MsgToEventLog(EVENTLOG_ERROR_TYPE, L"Called with options relevant only when a previous instance is available (action type = %d arg = %s", a->type, a->arg ? a->arg : L"");
           }
       }
   }
diff --git a/options.c b/options.c
index 07c26d1..b12dadf 100644
--- a/options.c
+++ b/options.c
@@ -104,6 +104,22 @@ add_action(struct action_list *al, DWORD type, wchar_t *arg)
     al->tail = a;
 }
 
+/* action commands that could be sent to a running instance */
+static const wchar_t *valid_cmds[] =
+{
+    L"connect",
+    L"disconnect",
+    L"reconnect",
+    L"disconnect_all",
+    L"status",
+    L"exit",
+    L"import",
+    L"silent_connection",
+    L"rescan",
+
+    NULL       /* last entry */
+};
+
 static int
 add_option(options_t *options, int i, TCHAR **p)
 {
@@ -234,6 +250,8 @@ add_option(options_t *options, int i, TCHAR **p)
     {
         ++i;
         options->silent_connection = _ttoi(p[1]) ? 1 : 0;
+        /* also interpreted by a second instance */
+        add_action(al, WM_OVPN_SILENT, p[1]);
     }
     else if (streq(p[0], _T("passphrase_attempts")) && p[1])
     {
@@ -262,55 +280,52 @@ add_option(options_t *options, int i, TCHAR **p)
     }
     else if (streq(p[0], _T("command")) && p[1])
     {
-        ++i;
         /* command to be sent to a running instance */
-        if (streq(p[1], _T("connect")) && p[2])
+        int found = 0;
+        for (int k = 0; valid_cmds[k] && !found; k++)
         {
-            /* Treat this as "--connect profile" in case this is the first instance */
-            i = add_option(options, i, &p[1]);
+            found = streq(valid_cmds[k], p[1]);
         }
-        else if (streq(p[1], _T("disconnect")) && p[2])
-        {
-            ++i;
-            add_action(al, WM_OVPN_STOP, p[2]);
-        }
-        else if (streq(p[1], _T("reconnect")) && p[2])
-        {
-            ++i;
-            add_action(al, WM_OVPN_RESTART, p[2]);
-        }
-        else if (streq(p[1], _T("status")) && p[2])
-        {
-            ++i;
-            add_action(al, WM_OVPN_SHOWSTATUS, p[2]);
-        }
-        else if (streq(p[1], L"import") && p[2])
-        {
-            ++i;
-            add_action(al, WM_OVPN_IMPORT, p[2]);
-        }
-        else if (streq(p[1], _T("silent_connection")))
-        {
-            ++i;
-            add_action(al, WM_OVPN_SILENT, p[2] ? p[2] : L"1");
-        }
-        else if (streq(p[1], _T("disconnect_all")))
-        {
-            add_action(al, WM_OVPN_STOPALL, NULL);
-        }
-        else if (streq(p[1], _T("exit")))
-        {
-            add_action(al, WM_OVPN_EXIT, NULL);
-        }
-        else if (streq(p[1], _T("rescan")))
-        {
-            add_action(al, WM_OVPN_RESCAN, NULL);
-        }
-        else
+        if (!found)
         {
             ShowLocalizedMsg(IDS_ERR_BAD_OPTION, p[0]);
             exit(1);
         }
+        ++i;
+        i = add_option(options, i, &p[1]);
+    }
+    else if (streq(p[0], _T("disconnect")) && p[1])
+    {
+        ++i;
+        /* this option is handled only as an action passed by a second instance */
+        add_action(al, WM_OVPN_STOP, p[1]);
+    }
+    else if (streq(p[0], _T("reconnect")) && p[1])
+    {
+        ++i;
+        /* this option is handled only as an action passed by a second instance */
+        add_action(al, WM_OVPN_RESTART, p[1]);
+    }
+    else if (streq(p[0], _T("status")) && p[1])
+    {
+        ++i;
+        /* this option is handled only as an action passed by a second instance */
+        add_action(al, WM_OVPN_SHOWSTATUS, p[1]);
+    }
+    else if (streq(p[0], _T("disconnect_all")))
+    {
+        /* this option is handled only as an action passed by a second instance */
+        add_action(al, WM_OVPN_STOPALL, NULL);
+    }
+    else if (streq(p[0], _T("exit")))
+    {
+        /* this option is handled only as an action passed by a second instance */
+        add_action(al, WM_OVPN_EXIT, NULL);
+    }
+    else if (streq(p[0], _T("rescan")))
+    {
+        /* this option is handled only as an action passed by a second instance */
+        add_action(al, WM_OVPN_RESCAN, NULL);
     }
     else if (streq(p[0], _T("popup_mute_interval")) && p[1])
     {
diff --git a/res/openvpn-gui-res-en.rc b/res/openvpn-gui-res-en.rc
index 5e371dc..698eb5b 100644
--- a/res/openvpn-gui-res-en.rc
+++ b/res/openvpn-gui-res-en.rc
@@ -406,7 +406,10 @@ Supported commands:\n\
     status cnn             \t: show the status window of config ""cnn"" if connected\n\
     silent_connection [0|1]\t: set the silent_connection flag on (1) or off (0)\n\
     import path          \t\t: Import the config file pointed to by path\n\
+    rescan               \t\t: Rescan config directories for config files\n\
 \t\t\tExample: openvpn-gui.exe --command disconnect myconfig\n\
+    As a shortcut, --command cmd may be simplified to --cmd\n\
+    e.g., --exit is the same as --command exit.\n\
 \n\
 Options to override registry settings:\n\
 --exe_path\t\t: Path to openvpn.exe.\n\